COUNTENANCED
Verb
countenanced
simple past tense and past participle of countenance
Source: Wiktionary
COUNTENANCE
Coun"te*nance (koun"t-nans), n. Etym: [OE. contenance, countenaunce,
demeanor, composure, F. contenance demeanor, fr. L. continentia
continence, LL. also, demeanor, fr. L. continere to hold together,
repress, contain. See Contain, and cf. Continence.]
1. Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien.
So spake the Son, and into terror changed His countenance. Milton.
2. The face; the features.
In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Shak.
3. Approving or encouraging aspect of face; hence, favor, good will,
support; aid; encouragement.
Thou hast made him . . . glad with thy countenance. Ps. xxi. 6.
This is the magistrate's peculiar province, to give countenance to
piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice. Atterbury.
4. Superficial appearance; show; pretense. [Obs.]
The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent
thereat. Ascham.
In countenance, in an assured condition or aspect; free from shame or
dismay. "It puts the learned in countenance, and gives them a place
among the fashionable part of mankind." Addison.
– Out of countenance, not bold or assured; confounded; abashed.
"Their best friends were out of countenance, because they found that
the imputations . . . were well grounded." Clarendon.
– To keep the countenance, to preserve a composed or natural look,
undisturbed by passion or emotion. Swift.
Coun"te*nance (koun"t-nans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countenanced (-
nanst); p. pr. & vb. n. Countenancing.]
1. To encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet.
This conceit, though countenanced by learned men, is not made out
either by experience or reason. Sir T. Browne.
Error supports custom, custom countenances error. Milton.
2. To make a show of; to pretend. [Obs.]
Which to these ladies love did countenance. Spenser.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition